Building block



June 9, 1942. c. R. WILSON BUILDING BLOCK led Dec. 27! 1938 INVENTOR dson L J V J C/mzg ss Tag man U: AITTORNE Y.

Patented June 9, 1942 u l T ED STAT E s ear s a T 0 PF l-CE BUILDING BLOCK Charles Raymond Wilson, Los Angeles, Calif. Application' December 27, 1938, Serial No. 247,753 4 Claims. -(c1. a es) This invention relatesto building constructions and relates more particularly to building blocks and structures that may be constructed from the same.

Another Object of this invention is to provide building blocks that may be employed in such a manner that vertical and horizontal reinforcing or supporting columns, beams, etc. may be formed or beams and being so constructed that steel reinforcing rods for the columns and beams may be readily arranged in place without employing tying means.

Another objectof tight joints are formed between the blocks.

Another object of this invention is to provide :3

a this invention is to provide a wall structure or the like made up of blocks wherein weather-tight and substantially waterhaving mating or interlocking'parts extending along their several edges and'along the edges of their partitions which present complementary surfaces ofogee curvaturethat operate by reason of their configuration to develop the maximum resistance to shear,' to "positively prevent misalignment and incorrect positioning of the blocks,

to 'form substantially iluid tight seals between the blocks and to automatically clear one another of dirt,sand,' etcfwhen the blocks are assembld.

I "The various objects and features of my invention'will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of the "invention, throughout whichdescriptionrefrence is made to the ac- 'cornpanying drawing, in which:

' in the wall or partition whereever required, the

assembled blocks serving as forms for the columns 20 'F-ig. l'is a fragmentary perspective view of a partially completed wall structure formed of building blocks'of the present invention. Fig. 2 is 'a vertical detailed sectional view of the wall 'taken as indicated byline 2-2 on Fig. 1 illustrating the manner in which a reinforced vertical column or support may be formed in the Wall.

' Fig. 3 is a vertical detailed sectional View taken asindic ated by lines 3-3 on Figs. 1 and 2. Fig.

4'is a fragmentary plan view of a partially completed wall structure having a corner column and Another object of this invention is to provide building blocks of the character mentioned that are economical of manufacture, capable of being laid quickly and inexpensively by unskilled labor, and that do not restrict architectural design.

Another object of this invention is to provide building blocks of concrete or other moldable material that may be employed to form walls and the like that are, in effect, monolithic and in which no mortar or grout is required to obtain water-tight and strong seals and bonds between the cooperating blocks.

Another object of this invention is to provide building blocks of the character mentioned having cooperating or interlocking edge parts that develop or provide a shear point or strength substantially equal to the strength of the main walls of the blocks.

Another object of this invention is to'provide hollow partitioned building blocks of the character mentioned whose partitions have interlocking parts forming strong dependable connections capable of effectively resisting horizontal stresses both longitudinally and transversely of the wall structure.

A fur her object of this invention is to provide' buildingblo cks of the character mentioned iaerauy walls. Fig. 5- is a perspective view of a building block of the invention viewed from the under side. Fig. 6 is a reduced fragmentary i side elevation of a wall constructed of the building blocks, illustrating the manner in which the blocks interlock at the corner of a wall, and Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of aside wall of a block.

The present invention may be embodied in building structures, partitions'walls, etc. varying reatly in arrangement, shape, purpose, etc., it

being a feature of the invention that the construction may be readily made in any. required form and used in practically any situation. In the drawings I have illustrated several typical wall structures or assemblies constructed in accordance with; the invention, it being understood that these disclosures are merely illustrative of the'many applications of the invention.

The wall or building construction of the invention comprises a multiplicity of blocks I, and in accordance with the invention the blocks I making up the construction may be alike or identical. Each building block i 'of the invention may be said to comprise, generally, spaced side walls 2 end walls 3 and oneprmore partitions] I.

The blocks I are chambered or hollow memtransverse bers and are generally rectangular in shape. In accordance with the invention the blocks I are cast or otherwise pre-formed of concrete or other formable or moldable material suitable for the purpose. The material or materials of which the blocks I are formed may be varied to suit the use or application of the invention. The blocks I are monolithic or one piece members, the side walls 2, end Walls 3 and partitions II of each block being integrally joined. Assuming the blocks to be arranged in vertical wall or partition structures as illustrated in the drawings the side walls 2 and end walls 3 are substantially vertical and the upper and lower ends of the blocks are open. The edges of the side and end Walls 2 and 3 bordering one open side of each block I are formed to have bevelled or curved surfaces 6 and I, respectively. In the preferred construction these edge surfaces 6 and I are of ogee transverse curvature as best illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing. The margins or edges of the side and end walls 2 and 3 at the other open sides of the blocks are provided With similar bevelled or curved surfaces 8 and 9, re-

spectively. The surfaces 8 and 9 are preferably formed to have an ogee transverse curvature.

The upper and lower edge surfaces 6 and I and 8 and 9 of the blocks I are complementary whereby they mate or interlock when the blocks are assembled or laid one upon the other. It is preferred to assemble or lay up the blocks I as illustrated in the drawing so that the surfaces 6 and 'I are at the upper sides of the blocks and slope or curve downwardly and outwardly from the inner sides of their respective walls to the outer surfaces of the blocks. With the blocks I assembled in this manner the surfaces 8 and 9 occur at the under sides of the blocks I and slope or curve downwardly and outwardly from the inner surfaces of their respective walls to the outer surfaces of the blocks I and the engagement between the surfaces 6 and 8 and. I and 9 provides weather-tight and fluid-tight seals. It is to be understood that the surfaces 6 and I and 8 and 9 are transversely curved throughout their extents, the curves beginning at the inner surfaces of the blocks and terminating at the outer surfaces of the blocks. Because of this construction the cooperating or mating curved surfaces 6 and 8 and I and 9 provide or develop a strength or shear point comparable to that of the main walls of the blocks I. It is preferred to provide notches I0 at the ends of the surfaces 9 to separate the surfaces 9 from the adjacent surfaces 8. This allows the blocks I of the superimposed tiers to be laid in staggered relation as will be subsequently described. The notches II] are of double ogee transverse curvature and their parts are continuations of the ogee surfaces 8.

One end wall 3 of each block I is provided with vertical marginal ribs 4 and the other end wall 3 of each block is provided with vertical marginal grooves 5. The ribs 4 and grooves 5 are complementary or of corresponding proportions and configuration so that the ribs and grooves of adjoining or abutting blocks I mate or interlock. The ribs 4 and grooves 5 are of ogee curvature and are substantially aligned with the above mentioned notches and have their longitudinal center lines substantially aligned with the inner margins of the surfaces 6 and 8.

The partitions II extend between and connect the side walls 2 and are substantially parallel with the end walls or ends 3. There may be one or more partitions II in each block I as required. In the preferred construction illustrated there is one partition II provided in each block I and the partition is equally spaced from the opposite end walls 3. Assuming the blocks I to be arranged as illustrated the upper edges of the partitions II have channels or grooves I2 and the lower edges or surfaces of the partitions have ribs I3. The walls of the grooves I2 are curved and are formed to cooperate with the surfaces 9 of abutting overlying blocks I. The two longitudinal halves of each groove I2 have an ogee curvature extending from an external surface of the partition II to the medial longitudinal line of the groove and each of these curved walls is adapted to mate with a surface 9. The ribs I3 are adapted to cooperate with the surfaces 1 of abutting underlying blocks I or with the grooves I2 of underlying blocks. The ribs I3 are of ogee transverse curvature to properly cooperate with these parts. The end walls 25 of the grooves I2 and the ends 26 of the ribs I3 are of ogee curvature and merge with the surfaces 6 and 8 respectively. The upper and lower surfaces of the partitions II formed as just described are adapted to mate or cooperate with the opposing surfaces of other partitions II and are adapted to mate with the upper and lower surfaces I and 9 of pairs of abutting blocks I.

The building blocks intended for embodiment in the corners of wall structures, etc. may be provided with plain outer ends I4 devoid of the surfaces or ribs 4 and the grooves 5 described above, see Figs. 4 and 6. It is preferred to construct the blocks so that their lengths are substantially twice their widths and to provide them with single partitions II so that the blocks may be fitted or assembled at right angles to each other at the corners of the walls, etc. As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing suitable notches I5 may be formed in certain side walls 2 of the blocks to receive or cooperate with the edge surfaces 6 of the underlying corner blocks.

When the blocks I are assembled or laid in a vertical wall the partitioned communicating interiors of the blocks form vertical spaces I6. When it is desired or necessary to provide vertical posts, supports or columns in the wall certain of the spaces I6 may be filled with concrete or other material to constitute the columns. In this connection it is to be observed that the walls 2 and 3 and partitions II of the blocks I provide or define the-spaces I6 for the reception of the columns. Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawing illustrate a vertical column I'I provided as just described. Where the column or columns I! require reinforcements suitable reinforcing rods I8 may be arranged in the spaces I6.

When the wall or partition structure requires a horizontal support or beam a horizontal partition may be embodied in the structure as the same is assembled to constitute the lower form wall for the material of the beam. For example, a strip of tar paper, building paper or the like may be interposed between the mating edge surfaces of the blocks I in a pair of superimposed tiers of blocks and the concrete to form the beam may be poured in the spaces I6 above the strip. Where it is desirable or necessary to reinforce a horizontal beam of the character referred to notches I9 may be formed in the upper edge portions of the block ends 3 to receive the reinforcing rods, see Fig. 1.

By reason of the particular arrangement of relieved or beveled margins and complementary ribs (the cooperating surfaces 6 and 8, 1 and 9), a wall formed of the blocks is inherently weatherproof; this being particularly true when the blocks I are laid with the ribs or surfaces 8 and 9 directed downwardly, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Furthermore, the blocks I stack readily one upon the other and structurally tie together, both in forming a vertical wall and in providing a definite interlock between a wall and a wall at right angles thereto such as a corner or a partition wall emanating therefrom.

It will be seen from the foregoing that in the erection of a Wall, partition, or the like, employing the blocks 1 of my invention that it is not necessary to use mortar in the construction thereof because of the interlocking parts thereof and that the structure will be water-proof because of the downwardly deflecting ogee bevelled edges of the blocks; and that when a vertical column if and a horizontal beam are provided in the wall as hereinbefore described the building block I forming the wall will be tied together in such a manner that the same cannot be dislodged.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A building block comprising a pair of spaced side walls, a pair of spaced end Walls connecting the side walls, two opposite sides of the block being open, and edge surfaces on said side and end walls at the open sides of the block, said edge surfaces on the end walls extending transversely of said edge surfaces on the side walls, said surfaces being of ogee curvature in transverse cross section and the said surfaces at opposite sides of the block being pitched in the same general direction relative to their respec- I tive walls and being of reverse curvature whereby a plurality of the blocks may be superimposed with their said surfaces in mating engagement, said surfaces substantially completely occupying the edges of said side and end walls so that the mating surfaces of the superimposed blocks develop the full shear resisting strength of said walls.

2. A building block comprising a pair of spaced side walls, a pair of spaced end walls connecting the side walls, a partition connecting the side walls and spaced from the end walls, edge surfaces on said side and end walls pitched relative to their respective walls and of ogee transverse curvature to mate with the corresponding surfaces of similar blocks, said surfaces at the opposite sides of the block being reversed in curvature but pitched in the same general direction relative to their respective walls whereby the surfaces of stacked similar blocks mate one with the other, said surfaces extending from the internal faces to the external faces of said walls whereby the mating surfaces of the superimposed blocks develop substantially the full shear strength of the walls, a concave surface of double ogee transverse curvature on one edge of the partition for receiving the curved pitched surfaces of the end walls of a pair of abutting blocks, and a convex surface of double ogee transverse curvature on the other edge of the partition for cooperating with the pitched surfaces of the end walls of a pair of blocks arranged in end to end relation.

3. Blocks for use inbuilding structures each comprising a pair of spaced end walls and a pair of spaced side walls, pitched surfaces of ogee transverse curvature on the opposite edges of said walls, said surfaces on one side of each block being curved in a reverse direction to the said surfaces on the other side of the block, there being notches in the said surfaces on the end walls on one side of each block for receiving the opposing surfaces on the side walls of other blocks when the blocks are laid in longitudinally offset relation, and a partition in each block having a convex surface on one edge for cooperating with the said surfaces on the abutting ends of a pair of blocks and having a concave surface on its other edge for receiving the said surfaces on the abutting ends of another pair of blocks, the ends of said concave and convex surfaces being of ogee curvature and merging with said surfaces of the side walls.

4. A building block comprising a pair of spaced side walls, a pair of spaced end walls connecting the side walls, two opposite sides of the block being open, and edge surfaces on said side and end walls at the open sides of the block of ogee curvature in transverse cross section, said surfaces being pitched and curved from the internal faces to the external faces of said walls, said edge surfaces on the end walls extending transversely of said edge surfaces on the side walls.

CHARLES RAYMOND WILSON. 

